What first got you into the auto retail business?
After serving a tour in Vietnam I came home and interviewed with several companies. IBM and Xerox were the two I was most interested in. Unfortunately they did not share the same interest in me. I do not believe that they thought I had the qualities necessary to be a good salesperson. At the time, my father was a silent partner of Bill Page at Bill Page Toyota. He asked me to come to work for him when I was just about to leave for Colorado to ski for a month. This gave me the opportunity to see whether IBM and Xerox were right. They were not.

When did you buy your first dealership?
Frank Page and I opened Alexandria Toyota in October of 1973. I bought Frank out in 1984.

In your tenure as an auto dealer, what is the one accomplishment you are most proud of?
I am fortunate to have great people working at Alexandria Toyota. My accomplishments are a result of their diligence and hard work. To name just a few: We are proud that we have one Toyota's President's award 21 years in a row. I believe that there are only seven other dealers who have done this. We are proud that we have a good reputation in a business that suffers with reputation. We are proud of our philanthropic work in this city. We raised 1.5 million dollars for capital hospice and have given away over that amount to various nonprofits, most of which are related to children's education.

Who was the biggest influence in your career?
Bob McCurry, the legendary Chrysler and Toyota executive.

What makes a great auto dealer?
The same qualities that make a success in any business. Love what you do, greet your employees and customers with respect, and always remember there is no luggage rack or hearse.

How are you active in your local community?
Very active! This year we’re particularly proud of our involvement in the Alexandria scholarship fund. We agreed to match up to $100,000 of any new money coming to the scholarship fund. We will pay out the whole $100,000.

Any advice for aspiring auto dealers?
Work hard, tell the truth, and save your money.